Crypto News

Crypto Prices Today December 18: BTC Drops Below $106K, PENGU Soars by 550%, BGB Up by 17%

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Crypto prices today saw major fluctuations as Bitcoin (BTC) hit a new all-time high of $108,000 before retreating below $106,000, showcasing significant volatility in recent trading. Meanwhile, Pudgy Penguins (PENGU), a token launched just yesterday, recorded a remarkable 550% surge within 24 hours, propelling it into the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap. Bitget Token (BGB) also experienced a strong uptick, climbing 17% despite a broader market dip.

The overall market cap declined by approximately 1% to $3.71 trillion, while trading volumes fell by 8.6% to $185 billion. The Fear and Greed Index signaled extreme greed, reading 80. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the leading cryptocurrencies by market cap and their price action on December 18.

Crypto Prices Today: Market Tackles Turbulence But Some Alts Soar

The crypto market showed a mixed reaction, with Bitcoin and Ethereum down by 1% to 3%. However, U.S.-based projects like XRP, Stellar (XLM), and Hedera (HBAR) surged by 3% to 6% over the last 24 hours, reflecting positive momentum among select altcoins despite the broader market dip.

Bitcoin Price Today

The Bitcoin (BTC) price dropped by 1% and was trading at $105,368. Its 24-hour low and high were $105,004 and $108,269, respectively. The market cap stood at $2.09 trillion, with $70 billion in trading volume. Its market dominance was recorded at 56.63%.

As per SoSo Value, BTC ETFs saw an outflow of 247 million BTC on Tuesday, with Fidelity leading the outflows at 128 million BTC. Grayscale’s GBTC recorded an 84 million BTC outflow, while data from BlackRock is still awaited.

Ethereum Price Today

Ethereum (ETH) price today was trading at $3,869, marking a 4% drop in the last 24 hours. Its 24-hour low and high were $3,836 and $4,040, respectively. The market cap stood at $466 billion, with $35 billion in trading volume. The market dominance was recorded at 12.67%.

ETH ETFs saw an inflow of approximately 10 million, with Grayscale accounting for 4.45 million of the inflow and Fidelity taking in approximately 4 million. Data from BlackRock is still anticipated.

XRP Price Today

XRP price has risen by 3% in the last 24 hours, trading at $2.55. Its 24-hour low and high were $2.463 and $2.717, respectively. In crypto prices today, XRP’s market cap is $146 billion, with a trading volume of $17 billion, making it the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Additionally, Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD went live yesterday, marking Ripple’s entry into the stablecoin market.

Solana Price Today

Solana (SOL) price has increased by 2% in the last 24 hours, trading at $218. Its 24-hour low and high were $213 and $228, respectively. Its market cap stands at $104 billion, with a trading volume of $6 billion and a market dominance of 2.85%.

Meme Crypto Prices Today

Meme coins have shown a bearish reaction in the market. Dogecoin (DOGE) is down by approximately 3% and is now trading at $0.39. Shiba Inu (SHIB) has also seen a 4% decline, currently trading at $0.00002609. Other notable meme coins like PEPE, BONK, and WIF have dropped by 2% to 6%. These movements reflect the trend in crypto prices today, as the meme coin market faces a correction amid broader market fluctuations.

Top Crypto Gainer Prices Today

Pudgy Penguins

Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) became the top gainer for today, surging by 550% in the last 24 hours. The price skyrocketed after Binance launched it yesterday. Currently, PENGU is trading at $0.03, with a 24-hour low of $0.02 and a high of $0.06.

Bitget Token

Bitget Token (BGB) continues its strong performance, marking the second consecutive day as a top gainer. Today, it’s up by 17%, currently trading at $4.18. Its 24-hour low and high range between $3.56 and $4.23. The rise in price is attributed to Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, being granted a license to operate as a Bitcoin service provider by El Salvador’s Central Bank.

Litecoin

Litecoin (LTC) was up by approximately 7% in the last 24 hours and is currently trading at $125. Its 24-hour low and high were $114 and $129. The rise in price is mainly attributed to predictions from Bloomberg analysts that a Litecoin ETF could launch sooner than those for Solana and XRP. As seen in crypto prices today, Litecoin’s growth is notable amid broader market trends.

Top Crypto Loser Prices Today

Lido DAO

Lido DAO (LDO) price was down by 9% and is currently trading at $2.08. Its 24-hour low and high were $2.05 and $2.31, making it the worst performer for today. In crypto prices today, Lido DAO’s decline stands out amidst other market movements.

Aptos

Aptos (APT) price was down by 8% and is now trading at $12.89. Its 24-hour low and high were $12.72 and $14.36. In crypto prices today, Aptos showed a notable decline compared to other assets.

Fantom

Fantom (FTM) was down by 7% and is trading at $1.31. Its 24-hour low and high were $1.297 and $1.43. The market cap stands at $3.67 billion with a 24-hour trading volume of $475 million. Crypto prices today reflect a slight dip for Fantom.

Besides, the hourly chart shows a bearish trend, with Bitcoin down by half a percent, and major altcoins like XRP, Solana (SOL), and Binance Coin (BNB) down by approximately 1% in the last hour. This indicates short-term selling pressure across the market.

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CoinGape comprises an experienced team of native content writers and editors working round the clock to cover news globally and present news as a fact rather than an opinion. CoinGape writers and reporters contributed to this article.

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